WHAT HAD BEEN BILLED AS THE BEST CHANCE TO REUNIFY CYPRUS HAS COLLAPSED SPECTACULARLY,FUELLING FEARS THAT THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND IS HEADING TOWARDS PERMANENT PARTITION.
UN-SPONSORED TALKS HELD IN THE SWISS ALPS FOR THE PAST 10 DAYS WERE BROUGHT TO AN ABRUPT HALT ON FRIDAY AFTER NEGOTIATIONS DESCENDED IN THE EARLY HOURS INO ''YELLING AND DRAMA'',ENDING THE GREATEST HOPE YET OF RESOLVING THE 43-YEAR DISPUTE.
THE TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER MUSTAFA AKINCI,WHO HAD STALKED HIS POLITICAL CAREER ON A SOLUTION,PREDICTED THAT FUTURE EFFORTS TO REUNITE CYPRUS UNDER A FEDERAL UMBRELLA WOULD BE EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT.
ADDRESSING REPORTERS HOURS AFTER THE VISIBLY DESPONDENT UN SECRETARY GENERAL,ANTONIO GUTERRES,ANNOUNCED THE FAILURE,HE SAID:''I WISH THE NEXT GENERATION GOODLUCK ON THIS AND THAT ONE DAY MAY BE TURKISH CYPRIOTS AND GREEK CYPRIOTS WILL DECIDE TOGETHER THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A NEED FOR TROOPS ON THE ISLAND''.
THE ISSUE OF MAINTAINING MILITARY INTERVENTION RIGHTS-INSISTED UPON BY TURKEY-UNDER A TRIPARTITE ''GUARANTOR POWER'' SECURITY SYSTEM CONCEIVED WHEN CYPRUS WON INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN,LAY AT THE CRUX OF THE COLLAPSE.